My wife and I are 45 with one son in college and a 5 year old daughter (surprise!!). I got hooked on cruising with my first real cruise, Disney Magic in 2006. Now, by budgeting (which I've always done) I plan on cruising every other year. Cruising is about half again more expensive than what I pay for other week long vacations, that's why only every other year (at least until the son is out of college). I think cruising is well worth the price.